New Author's despair

[Cinnamon_Tart]

I am at the point of giving up posting my creations on literotica. And I had such high hopes of receiving either nice comments, or at least critical feedback of the useful kind!

The only comments my stories seem to attract are "You are such a sick f***, why do you do this stuff. Your marriage must be sh**, and god forbid your kids might find out you have this kind of sex."

I just don't get why people are so singularly unhelpful and critical!

My husband would say to me, "Rach, welcome to the world of the general (generally stupid and unthinking) public."

Does anyone else feel disheartened by utterly useless feedback like this? I am tempted to remove power to leave public comment, and remove voting. But that doesn't sit well with my natural wish to allow that, to better my style and contribution to this wonderful resource.

Regards,

Rachel

 

[be_ignited]

Did you post this in the right forum?

You might get better responses in one of the forums more geared towards story posting.

 

[Scotsman69]

Rachel is right, and I think she's posted in the right place. The 'Authors' Forum' is full of nasty right-wing men.

But Rachel, all you can do is ignore them. I have considered turning off readers' comments, or deleting the negative ones, but I haven't. I'm proud of what I write.

You should be too. You are good.

Scotsman69

 

[SimonBrooke]

I am at the point of giving up posting my creations on literotica. And I had such high hopes of receiving either nice comments, or at least critical feedback of the useful kind!

The only comments my stories seem to attract are "You are such a sick f***, why do you do this stuff. Your marriage must be sh**, and god forbid your kids might find out you have this kind of sex."

I've just been and read two of your stories, Charlotte's Catharsis and Fantasy Whore. Both stuck me as well written, well paced and well constructed: so much, so good. But what was outstanding for me in both of these stories was the sense of honesty, of true narration. It doesn't actually matter to me whether these stories are true or not: you were able to convince me of the truth of them. I also (because I have somewhat complementary kinks to your own) find them extremely interesting and revealing; I learned from them. So: fine stories, well written with conviction.

So now to the feedback.

Many of the men who read stories on Literotica are lonely, inadequate, insecure. They need to bully. There is a mob of such men who go around picking on new writers who appear to be women, with vitriolic hostile comments. You are not the first - this is a pattern of behaviour I have seen over and over again. Many of these women are talented. Many of these women have stories to tell. And, sadly, quite a few of them are bullied off the site altogether and never come back.

If you want positive, constructive feedback may I recommend the Story Discussion Circle? There you will find a circle of intelligent fellow authors who will consider your work carefully and make generally constructive criticism of it. You will have to wait for a slot in the queue, but the moderator tends to process these pretty quickly if you ask. Another solution is to find yourself a volunteer editor - many of them are very helpful, and I personally have a couple of friends I've met through the volunteer editor's system with whom I swap stories for editing and feedback.

As to the feedback on the 'stories' side of the site, ignore completely any anonymous feedback. If a man isn't even prepared to sign in as 'BigSwingingDick73954' or whatever his identity concealing username happens to be, ignore him completely.

Usernames are quite revealing, actually. I use my real name, and you can easily look me up in a lot of places - so consequently I'm not going to say something on Literotica I wouldn't say in real life. Most people on Literotica prefer to hide their real identities, though, and I completely understand this. People with witty or eccentric usernames are usually honest people seriously interested in writing. People with who self-identify as thinks like 'BigSwingingDick73954' are, in my opinion, best ignored.

But Literotica is an incredibly mixed bag. The quality of the readership is abysmally poor, and (as you've found) the quality of the feedback is mainly pretty dire. People come here to wank. Not everyone, and not all the time - but at least nine of every ten readers isn't interested in well constructed narrative, or vivid, honest experience. They just want to get off as quickly as possible. Personally I haven't posted a story to Lit for a couple of years, but that's frustrating too - I don't really have anywhere else to publish them, and for any writer, some readers are better than no readers.

 

[Cinnamon_Tart]

What a relief...

Scotsman69 and SimonBrooke,

Thank you both so much. I just needed a little pat on the head to say, "There there, it happens to us all. Don't worry about it, and for goodness sake don't take it personally."

I think I have taken it very personally, and whilst I appreciate I'm in a small minority, for enjoying the things I enjoy, I guess it isn't often it is pointed out to me. Mix with kinky folk, and you end up thinking you're "normal".

I shall carry on regardless. Thank you both.

Rachel x

 

[SimonBrooke]

Thank you both so much. I just needed a little pat on the head to say, "There there, it happens to us all. Don't worry about it, and for goodness sake don't take it personally."

I think I have taken it very personally, and whilst I appreciate I'm in a small minority, for enjoying the things I enjoy, I guess it isn't often it is pointed out to me. Mix with kinky folk, and you end up thinking you're "normal".

I can't list the number of new women writers - some of them apparently quite vulnerable people - who I've seen bullied off this site. It doesn't 'happen to us all' - authors with apparently male names get a lot less of this abuse. It's cowardly, misogynistic bullying, and you should absolutely not let it get to you.

For the rest, I don't know how unusual kinky folk are, but it's my guess that there are a lot more folk who fantasise about it but dare not do it, or who do it and dare not talk about it, than there are folk who can come out openly and say 'I have a kink about violent and/or dominant sex'. So give yourself a gold star for courage and honest, and whatever you do, don't go away disheartened. If you conclude Lit isn't the place for you I would completely understand - but do not see it as you were driven out.

The cowards aren't worth it.

 

[Scotsman69]

I think Simon (whom I don't know, though we live in the same wee country), has said it all.

Ignore the bastards, Cinnamon, and keep writing. Your honesty and integrity shines through, and you write very well indeed. And keep posting them, please!

Scotsman69

 

[Scotsman69]

Oops ... honesty and integrity SHINE through!

 

[midwestyankee]

Rachel is right, and I think she's posted in the right place. The 'Authors' Forum' is full of nasty right-wing men.

But Rachel, all you can do is ignore them. I have considered turning off readers' comments, or deleting the negative ones, but I haven't. I'm proud of what I write.

You should be too. You are good.

Scotsman69

This statement (in bold) is an absolute crock of shit. Some of the most literate, liberal-minded Litsters frequent the Authors' Hangout. That you seem to notice only the few jerks who regularly spew right-wing nutjob clichés all day says much more about your literacy than it does about the AH.

Rachel, it's quite common for stories to receive feedback that could have been written by a slow-witted schnauzer. But don't despair at all. If your stories are well written, they will get noticed. I would suggest that you start posting a bit in the Authors' Hangout, get to know the folks there, and soon you'll have literate friends who share your concerns about good writing and good smut.

mwy

 

[Scotsman69]

Uhuh, mwy. I really do NOT want to hijack Cinnamon's thread, but I do object to slurs on my literacy. I don't see that mwy has posted any stories on here, literate or not.

I will post no more on this. If you want to talk, PM me, which is what you should have done in the first place.

Scotsman69

 

[midwestyankee]

Uhuh, mwy. I really do NOT want to hijack Cinnamon's thread, but I do object to slurs on my literacy. I don't see that mwy has posted any stories on here, literate or not.

I will post no more on this. If you want to talk, PM me, which is what you should have done in the first place.

Scotsman69

Sorry, man, but I call people on it in public when they cast aspersions on good Litsters. I note that you chose to rebuke me publicly, so why the double standard of insisting that I do otherwise?

Further, you don't know me nor do you know the pen name that I use for my stories, which are published elsewhere as well as posted to Literotica. You'll find that the BDSM Forum is a congenial place so long as you avoid being judgmental. That, however, is your choice to make.

 

[Essene]

Rachel, it's quite common for stories to receive feedback that could have been written by a slow-witted schnauzer. But don't despair at all. If your stories are well written, they will get noticed. I would suggest that you start posting a bit in the Authors' Hangout, get to know the folks there, and soon you'll have literate friends who share your concerns about good writing and good smut.

mwy

I agree.


Back in the day, under a different screen name, I wrote a few stories, and experienced mixed reviews. The AH is a wonderful place, and although there are a few people on there who seem a bit right wing, I don't feel that that is an accurate description of the AH as a whole. There are people with differing opionions on every forum. The majority of the AH is very supportive especially if you come in and act respectfully, as I have a feeling you will have no problem doing.

I highly suggest introducing yourself there. There are quite a few people in the AH who write fetish, and BDSM stories.

 

[RawHumor]

I've gotten quite a mixed bag of reviews on my stories.

The anonymity of the internet gives people the courage to say anything that's on their mind. You can't let it get you down.

 

[Cinnamon_Tart]

Today I will be exploring AH! Thank you all for taking time to get back to me on this.

I couldn't send private messages yesterday, as had not figured out that I had to change defaults. I wanted to say a special thank you to scotsman69 and SimonBrooke. Not only did you both take the time to reassure me re criticism, and give me that all too needed pat on the head...but you both gave me some lovely feedback too. Think my ego needed that. Thank you both.

Rach x

 

[VelvetDarkness]

You have to keep in mind that these fucktards are spoiling for a fight. If you respond and show that you're angry and hurt, as far as they're concerned that's mission accomplished.

Most people who read the stories here are intelligent enough to select ones that they know they're going to like. If a guy is prepared to read right through a story entitled 'Fantasy Whore' just so he can act outraged, you can bet he's a creature beyond common sense and reason. You can also bet that he hasn't been laid in a very long time.

Also, despite the age restrictions, Lit does fall prey to a number of horny teenaged boys who want to read stuff that looks shocking for the pleasure of screaming 'Ewww!' They are usually the ones with the free time and dedication required to sit all day in front of their monitor typing vitriolic bollocks with just the one hand.

Don't sweat it.

You have a happy marriage, a satisfying sex life, a brain and a literary talent. These sad, pathetic little dickwits are simply not worth wasting a second of your life.

 

[curiousirish]

I have read one of your stories and to me there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.......dont take stupid comments to heart, people that do that probably write the same crap to hundreds of others.....

 

[Corylea]

Trolls are talking about themselves, not about you.

In my opinion, the people who choose to write negative claptrap are saying far more about themselves than they're saying about you OR your stories. I read "Charlotte's Catharsis" and liked it very much. You can write, and your writing feels fresh and realistic.

There are a lot of people who are in unhappy relationships. There are a lot of people with serious self-esteem issues. There are a lot of people who are flat-out mentally ill. Some people manage to have some or all of these problems and still be kind and literate people, and some ... don't.

Remember, they're telling you about themselves; they're not actually telling you anything about your story.

 

[kara24]

I read Charlottes Catharsis and thought it was excellent. You can definately write, your stories feel solid and full of real feeling. Again, I would echo previous comments, there are always people out there who will not understand your kink, and want to slate you for it. They dont know you, and will never matter to you, so just ignore them. In the past I have deleted odd nasty comments left on my own stories, but now I am more inclined to just ignore them and let them post what they like.

If someone posts helpful comments, I try to take them on board, and hope it makes me a better writer, otherwise - up theirs ! lol

 

[WriterDom]

I am at the point of giving up posting my creations on literotica. And I had such high hopes of receiving either nice comments, or at least critical feedback of the useful kind!

The only comments my stories seem to attract are "You are such a sick f***, why do you do this stuff. Your marriage must be sh**, and god forbid your kids might find out you have this kind of sex."

I just don't get why people are so singularly unhelpful and critical!

My husband would say to me, "Rach, welcome to the world of the general (generally stupid and unthinking) public."

Does anyone else feel disheartened by utterly useless feedback like this? I am tempted to remove power to leave public comment, and remove voting. But that doesn't sit well with my natural wish to allow that, to better my style and contribution to this wonderful resource.

Regards,

Rachel

Interesting because I've done stories under two different names and never had a problem.

Well, in the incest story, they didn't like that the bloke had a massive heart attack and died when he did finally fuck his daughter but he deserved it.

Just delete them.

 

[Albee]

Hi Cinnamon.

I can sympathize. A few years ago I wrote about the same topic, right here, on BDSM Talk. People were viscious. They accused me of pandering my wife, not understanding real love, not treasuring the sanctity of fidelity and marraige, and on and on...

To hear them tell it, I was the most depraved pervert imaginable.

And this was from a group of people whose idea of a great time was to have their husband tie them up, and beat the shit out of them while printing the word slut on their foreheads.

Thankfully, over the past year, I've found people at BDSM to have become far more tolerant. I've written about my desire for my wife to fuck other men a bunch of times and gotten nothing but thoughtful input and support.

My real question is whether or not cuckolding belongs on this forum. I sure hope it does. Is there anything more masochistic than having an unquenchable desire for your lifelong partner to find lovers that turn her on more than you, and that she prefers over you?

Anyway, that's my long-winded way of saying great to see you here.

And how do I find your stories?

 

[Undertrial]

No matter where you go, and what you write there will always be someone who demands in the nastiest way possible that you adhere to his or her idyllic standards of storytelling. Ignore them, capitulate to them, or get rid of their comments -- in the end just don't let them convince you to stop or give up. Sooo not worth it.